Chile Route 5
{{Short description|Highway in Chile}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Expand Spanish|topic=transp}}
{{Infobox road
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|type=CH
|route=5
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Chile Highway 5 or Route 5 known locally as Ruta 5 is Chile's longest route, {{convert|3364|km|mi}}. It is part of the Pan-American Highway.
Stretch
It runs from the Peruvian border connecting with Peru Highway 1 {{convert|19|km}} north of Arica to Puerto Montt where it connects by ferry to the island of Chiloé. It passes through Santiago, the country's capital, where it is called Autopista Central.
Highway grade
From the north border with Peru to north of Caldera, Ruta 5 is a two lane paved road with a speed limit of {{convert|100|km/h}}. From Caldera to Puerto Montt, the road was upgraded to a 4-lane freeway with {{convert|120|km/h}} as speed limit, 20% faster than Chile's common {{convert|100|km/h}} maximum speed limit. The highway ends in Puerto Montt, but it divides into two routes, one crossing the Chacao Channel that separates Chiloé from the continent, reaching it´s end in Quellón, and another route named Carretera Austral (Spanish for Southern Highway) that was opened in the 1980s. The southern part of Ruta 5 crosses long extensions of native woods and important cities.
Freeway grade
South of Caldera to Puerto Montt ({{convert|1903|km|disp=or}}) it is a 4 lane divided highway and toll road for the most part. It is Chile's longest freeway. The speed limit on the freeway is {{convert|120|km/h}} and as of May 2007 drivers must travel with their lights on all day long.
Tunnels
Four tunnels are part of Route 5, namely El Melón, La Calavera I, La Calavera II and Angostura, which have lengths of {{convert|2543|m|ft|abbr=on}}, {{convert|298|m|ft|abbr=on}}, {{convert|298|m|ft|abbr=on}}, {{convert|341|m|ft|abbr=on}} respectively.{{cite web |title=Dimensionamiento y Características de la Red Vial Nacional |url=http://www.vialidad.cl/areasdevialidad/gestionvial/Paginas/Informesyestudios.aspx |publisher=Dirección de Vialidad del Ministerio de Obras Públicas de Chile |language=Spanish |accessdate=24 February 2013 |archive-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615122958/http://www.vialidad.cl/areasdevialidad/gestionvial/Paginas/Informesyestudios.aspx |url-status=dead }} Each one of them carries two lanes of traffic, except El Melón Tunnel, the only tunnel that carries a lane in each direction.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Pan-American Highway in Chile|Chile Route 5}}
{{Roads of Chile}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Transport in Los Lagos Region
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